Hundred Wellness Center's Chair Class - Tried and tested

We try the one-on-one Pilates Chair Class at The Hundred Wellness Center in Dubai

By
Leah Simpson
15 July 2015

The promiseStarted by Emirati Asma Hilal Lootah The Hundred Wellness Center has two Pilates studios for beginner, intermediate and advanced mat classes, as well as equipment-based reformer, cadillac, chair and pole classes. She came up with the idea in order to help her community be healthier. Our instructor Elena vows to help us engage the right muscles to improve our technique in moving smoothly into gymnastic positions.

Physiotherapy, Homeopathy and Body composition analysis are also available for those who require.

Step by stepWhen we walk into The Hundred Wellness Center, we can almost feel the weight lifted from our shoulders. This light and airy space is flooded with both natural (and non-natural) light making it a happy place to hang out in. During my one-on-one class with Elena, she talks us through what we’re hoping to gain from Pilates as well as the history, and shares what benefits doing it long-term will have.

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We start off attempting a handstand pose on the Pilates Chair and are advised on which muscles need to be engaged to begin the process of shifting the weight onto our upper body, in turn releasing the wooden paddle beneath out feet. Surrounding us are reformer machines, plus plenty of other equipment which is supposed to aid us in achieving our goals. We work on the Cadillac which is a four poster bed-like structure to help raise our limbs into higher positions, before returning to the Chair to attempt the handstand again.

The resultWe leave with new knowledge of how important the position of the vertebrae is when exercising so we’re safe, and the moves are as effective as possible. We’re able to go deeper into the new moves taught to us at the beginning of the class and feel disciplined into being able to access certain muscles - such as our hamstring - when necessary.ProsThere’s a juice and coffee bar on the ground floor for a refreshment before and after exercise.ConsYou have to have at least three private lessons before you can enter group classes.5/5